Heirs of Prophecy - Lisa Smedman [82]
Larajin stared in wonder at Kith, who stood with a delighted look on her face, her wings fluttering gently. They were longer from shoulder to wingtip than the elf was tall, and their color was a shimmering white, each feather tipped at its end with a deep, glossy black. Kith stood confident and strong. Gone was the cringing, stooped posture she'd had earlier.
Trilling her delight, she burst into the air.
Larajin craned her head back, watching as Kith rose smoothly into the sky. Her white wings glowing in the moonlight, Kith circled once over the spot in the forest where Larajin stood. A moment later she was joined by Goldheart, who rose through the treetops to chase after her. Laughing, she tumbled with the tressym above the treetops, first letting Goldheart chase her, then sliding into a swooping turn or loop that put her in pursuit of the tressym.
On the ground below, Larajin watched the avariel elf and tressym at play. They shot overhead, Kith's wings making a whooshing sound loud enough for Larajin to hear, then disappeared behind the treetops. A moment later they soared back in a sweeping turn, disappeared from view again, then rose in a climb that saw both pairs of wings beating furiously, in what was seemingly a race to touch the moon. At the peak of their climb, each looped, one after the other, and dived toward the trees. So steep and rapid were their dives that Larajin
winced, thinking they were about to dash themselves against the ground, but at the last instant each swooped just short of the treetops and disappeared from sight once more.
For several long moments Larajin stood alone in the forest, wondering if Goldheart and Kith had flown away and forgotten her, then she heard the beating of wings. First Kith then Goldheart descended between the trees, landing gently where Larajin stood.
Kith bowed deeply to Larajin, throwing her hands out behind her. Now that the elf had her wings back, what had at first appeared a peculiar motion made sense to Larajin. As the hands swept back, the wings unfurled, adding a sweeping grace to the bow, then the wings folded tight against Kith's back as the elf straightened.
"Larajin, great thanks," Kith said in a quiet trill. "From deep of my heart to tip of wing. I want return thanks to you. May I help for you, before winds carry home?"
Beside her, Goldheart folded her own wings and began washing a paw. Despite the tressym's seeming indifference, however, Larajin saw Goldheart glance coyly in her direction, as if sharing a secret.
"There is something you could help me with, but only if you truly wish to do so," Larajin answered.
"Please," Kith said. "Ask.",
"There is a hill within the wood, a little over a day's flight northwest of here. Are your wings strong enough to carry me to it?"
Kith gave a trilling laugh, and unfurled her wings. Wedging one foot against a fallen log to brace herself, she flapped them with such vigor that the resulting wind buffeted Larajin, blowing her hair back over her shoulders.
"Strong?" Kith said, her eyes sparkling with dehght. "More than before. Your goddess be most great." She folded her wings, chuckling. "When go?"
"As soon as possible," Larajin answered. Tonight. I'll set the horse free-this close to Archenbridge, someone is sure to find it-and we can leave."
Kith nodded her agreement, and looked up at the sky.
"Moon is bright," she observed. "Good night for fly."
The windriders flew in from the west, their nine mounts aligned in a V-shaped formation. Leifander shaded his eyes and peered into the setting sun, watching as the griffons and their riders drew nearer. Gradually they changed from distant silhouettes to individuals he could recognize.
At the point of the formation was Lord Kierin, resplendent in a red surcoat over chain mail and a burnished bronze helm, carrying a lance that sported several